Case trimmer

Abstract

A motorized case trimmer is disclosed having a lever operated case holder and a motor driven trimming blade. The motor and blade are slidably mounted upon rails for quick and easy movement to provide sufficient clearance for loading a case into the case holder. A motor handle further simplifies the movement of the blade and motor whereby a simple one-step motion of the handle moves the blade and motor and locks them into a retracted position. Releasing the motor handle, permits the motor and blade to slide freely along the rails under urging by a pair of springs. The components of the case trimmer are mounted upon an elongate platform that permits adjustability of the position of the components for accommodating various size cases and for adjusting the cutting force of the blade against the cartridge case.

We claim: 
     
       1. A case holder for holding a cartridge case, comprising: (a) a lever support fixedly coupled to a base;   (b) a first block slidably couple to the base;   (c) a receptacle plate coupled to the first block for movement therewith, the receptacle plate defining a receptacle;   (d) a second block fixedly coupled to the base located between the first block and the receptacle plate;   (e) a biasing member urging the first block and the second block apart such that the receptacle plate is drawn toward said second block in response to said urging; and   (f) a lever pivotally coupled to the lever support, said lever having a cam surface, such that pivoting of the lever in a first direction causes the cam surface to press against and move the first block against the urging of the biasing member toward the second block thereby moving the receptacle plate and the second block apart allowing a cartridge case to be inserted into said receptacle, and pivoting of said lever in a direction opposite to said first direction causes said biasing member to urge said first block and second block apart, and thus causes said receptacle plate to be moved toward said second block thereby causing said second block and receptacle plate to cooperate to hold a cartridge case located in said receptacle.   
     
     
       2. The case holder of claim 1 wherein the second block defines a recess and the biasing member is located in the recess and is coupled to the first block. 
     
     
       3. The case holder of claim 1 further comprising a rod coupled to the first block and the receptacle plate, which rod couples the first block to the receptacle plate, the rod passing through the second block. 
     
     
       4. The case holder of claim 1 further comprising two rods coupled to the first block and the receptacle plate, which rods couple the first block to the receptacle plate, the rods passing through the second block, the second block further comprising a recess located between the two rods and wherein the biasing member is located in the recess. 
     
     
       5. The case holder of claim 1 further comprising a rod coupling the first block to the receptacle plate and wherein the receptacle plate includes an opening that receives the rod so that the receptacle plate is selectively coupled to the rod. 
     
     
       6. The case holder of claim 5 wherein the rod has an enlarged head portion and the opening is a keyhole opening that receives the enlarge head portion. 
     
     
       7. A case holder for holding a cartridge case, comprising: (a) a lever support;   (b) a first block;   (c) a receptacle plate coupled to the first block for movement therewith, the receptacle plate defining a receptacle;   (d) a second block located between said first block and said receptacle plate;   (e) a biasing member for urging said first block and said second block apart such that said receptacle plate is drawn towards said second block in response to said urging; and   (f) a lever having a cam surface; wherein said lever is pivotally coupled to said lever support such that pivoting of said lever in a first direction causes said cam surface to contact and move said first block against the urging of said biasing member and toward said second block, and thus causes said receptacle plate to be moved away from said second block thereby allowing a cartridge case to be inserted into said receptacle, and pivoting of said lever in a direction opposite to said first direction causes said biasing member to urge said first block and second block apart, and thus causes said receptacle plate to be moved toward said second block thereby causing said second block and receptacle plate to cooperate to hold a cartridge case located in said receptacle.   
     
     
       8. The case holder of claim 7 wherein the second block defines a recess and the biasing member is located in the recess. 
     
     
       9. The case holder of claim 7 further comprising a rod coupled to the first block and the receptacle plate, which rod couples the first block to the receptacle plate, the rod passing through the second block. 
     
     
       10. The case holder of claim 7 further comprising two rods coupled to the first block to the receptacle plate, which rods couple the first block and the receptacle plate, the rods passing through the second block, the second block further comprising a recess located between the two rods and wherein the biasing member is located in the recess. 
     
     
       11. The case holder of claim 7 further comprising a rod coupling the first block to the receptacle plate, and wherein the receptacle plate includes an opening that receives the rod, thereby selectively coupling the receptacle plate to the rod. 
     
     
       12. The case holder of claim 11 wherein the rod includes a head having a shoulder and the opening is a keyhole opening such that the keyhole opening defines a wide portion and a narrow portion and the wide portion accepts the head and the narrow portion fits over the rod and abuts the shoulder, thereby maintaining the receptacle plate coupled to the rod.